Maine Humanities Council

MHC Grants

• Introduction
• What are the Humanities
• General Guidelines
• Guidelines for Specific Project Types
• Instructions and Definitions for Completing Budget Form
• What We Can’t Fund
• Grant Types, Details & Deadlines
• Available Grants
• Applications Forms
• Past Grants
• For a copy of our logo for your project, click here

Past Grants

Grants Made By Maine Humanities Council : 2000–2001 (Arranged by Town)

• 1997-98
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• 1998-99
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• 1999-00
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• 2000-01
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• 2001-02
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• 2002-03
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• 2003-04
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• 2004-05
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• 2005-06
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• 2006-07
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• 2007-08
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• 2008-09
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• 2009-10
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• Old Fort Western, Augusta, $1,000
  Uncovering the Past: The World of Historical Archaeology
  A winter lecture series exploring a wide range of topics on Maine archaeology.
• Friends of the Maine State Museum, Augusta, $1,000
  "Maine's Adventurous Women" - Spring Lecture Series
  A spring lecture series focusing on Maine women active in outdoor life over the last 150 years.
• Maine State Archives, Augusta, $2,000
  Maine History Day - Maine
  Maine's celebration of National History Day, a statewide contest fostering creativity and imagination through a variety of student history projects.
• YWCA Bangor-Brewer, Bangor, $375
  Women's Week 2000
  A public reading-discussion group on the work of author Maya Angelou.
• Bangor Center Corporation, Bangor, $500
  Historic Downtown Bangor Photography Contest & Exhibition
  A juried exhibit of historical photographs to be presented in conjunction with the 3rd annual Downtown Studio Tour of Bangor.
• Arcady Music Society, Bar Harbor, $2,000
  Ragtime Weekend in Bar Harbor
  A series of cultural programs and lectures on the history of the "Ragtime Era" in Bar Harbor
• Belfast Institute of Lifelong Learning, Belfast, $1,000
  Poetry Program at the Hutchinson Center
  A program of poetry appreciation for all ages, incorporating readings and poetry slams.
• Vivian E. Hussey Primary School, Berwick, $1,000
  Literary Maine: Maine's Children"s Literature, Past & Present
  An inservice course with credits for K-6 staff in SAD #60 which will explore Maine's literary heritage for children.
• Brewer Public Library, Brewer, $500
  Read All About It!
  A library-based reading and discussion program for Brewer students in grades 5-8.
• Creative Photographic Art Center of Maine, Brunswick, $500
  Lewis Hine Lecture Series
  A public lecture series featuring three speakers who will interpret the photographs of Lewis Hine.
• Pejepscot Historical Society, Brunswick, $2,000
  Sew What? Making Sense of Making Things
  An exhibit, public lecture, field trip, and 3 mini-workshops exploring historical and contemporary creativity as seen through textile-related products.
• Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, Brunswick, $2,000
  Bowdoin Summer Music Festival Chamberlain Days Concert
  A special program of concerts and interpretation of the music of the Civil War Era. A climactic event will be a performance of Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" narrated by Governor Angus S. King, Jr.
• Bowdoin College, Brunswick, $5,000
  Upward Bound Humanities Seminar
  A book discussion and activity series meeting during the school year 2001-02 at sites in the St. John Valley, Washington County, and southern Maine. Seminars are open to motivated Upward Bound students.
• Northeast Historic Film, Bucksport, $1,000
  Library of Congress Film Preservation Tour
  A week-long series of film showings and interpretive programs --the only Maine stop of the Library of Congress' National Film Preservation Tour.
• Northeast Historic Film, Bucksport, $5,000
  Rural Places/Lost Worlds
  The Northeast Silent Film Festival and accompanying symposium, showcasing rare prints of films set in Maine and other "rural places".
• Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, $500
  Visiting Artist Paulus Berensohn
  A lecture and interpretive program by craft educator Paulus Berensohn at Haystack in July, 2001.
• Kiwanis Club of Dexter Sunrise, Dexter, $500
  Born to Read-Kiwanis Club of Dexter Sunrise Reading Program
  A Born to Read program in SAD #46 (Dexter, Exeter, Garland & Ripley) to serve approximately 190 client families.
• Kennebec-Chaudiere Heritage Corridor Corporation, Dresden, $500
  Kennebec-Chaudiere International Heritage Corridor Symposium
  A public symposium on the historical and cultural themes of the Kennebec Chaudiere International Corridor.
• Old Fort Western, Dresden, $500
  Old Fort Western Special Education Humanities Learning Results Planning Grant
  A one-day gathering for special education directors and teachers to identify programs for challenged students which can be designed and delivered at Old Fort Western.
• Kennebec-Chaudiere Heritage Corridor Corporation, Dresden, $1,000
  A Pathway to History: Exploring the History and Heritage of the Kennebec-Chaudiere International Corridor
  A one-day conference to mark the opening of the Kennebec-Chaudiere International Corridor and the shared history and heritage along these two rivers.
• Downeast Health Services, Inc., Ellsworth, $500
  Hancock County Born To Read
  A literacy program which plans to reach over 100 families in Hancock County, primarily through home visits.
• Downeast Health Services, Inc., Ellsworth, $500
  BTR-Downeast Health Services
  A program to distribute books to parenting teens and low income families in Washington and Hancock Counties.
• Downeast Health Services, Ellsworth, $500
  Ellsworth Born to Read
  A family literacy program in the Ellsworth area to serve 250 client families
• Plummer-Motz Elementary School, Falmouth, $500
  The Effects of Historical Events on Everyday Lives
  A music and history program by artist-educator Monica Grabin to help students from several Falmouth classes analyze and interpret four periods of American history.
• Maine Organic Farmers & Growers Assn., Freedom, $500
  An Oral History Demonstration Project for the Unity Common Ground Fair
  Planning grant to support an oral history project involving members of the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association.
• Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, Freedom, $1,000
  MOFGA Oral History Project
  An oral history project focusing on the early years of the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.
• Portland Harbor Museum, Portland, $1,000
  Portland Harbor Museum Lecture Series 2000-2001
  A series of 6 illustrated maritime history lectures. Topics to cover Portland Harbor, its islands and surrounding communities.
• University of Southern Maine, Gorham, $1,050
  The Artist's Inspiration: "A Sense of Place"
  A conference at the University of Southern Maine for K-12 art and social studies teachers to examine issues relating to the sense of place.
• University of Southern Maine, Gorham, $1,700
  Back Cove: Heart of Portland: Part 1
  A multi-discipline interpretive project focusing on Portland's Back Cove, to include 2 exhibits and the development of a historic trail.
• University of Southern Maine, Gorham, $500
  The Greek Diaspora in America
  Lectures, a video presentation, and concert reflecting on the history and origins of the modern Greek diaspora community in America.
• Hancock Historical Society, Hancock, $500
  The Sun Never Sets On Hancock Point - What Did We Miss?
  A public forum for residents of Hancock and Hancock Point, inviting comments and oral history contributions for a new book on the history of Hancock Point.
• Classical Association of New England, Hanover, $1,000
  From Augustus to Augustine: The Roman World & its Enduring Legacy, July 5-July 13, 2001
  Teacher Enrichment Program: Funds will provide stipends for Maine teachers to attend the Classical Association of New England's Summer Institute.
• LA Arts, Lewiston, $2,000
  Abenaki Author Joseph Bruchac's Visit to the Lewiston/Auburn Community
  Historian /author Joseph Bruchac will visit the Lewiston/Auburn area for both grade school and public presentations.
• Bates College, Lewiston, $500
  Maine Art Museum Trail - Maine PBS Television Series - Planning Grant
  Supplementary planning support for an MPB television series on Maine's seven principal art museums, with an additional focus on museology and how museums operate.
• Maine Art Museum Trail, Lewiston, $2,000
  Maine Art Museum Trail Television Series
  Planning grant for a new Maine PBS television series about the seven art museums of the Maine Art Museum Trail.
• Assoc. Cult. et Hist. du Mont-Carmel, Lille, $2,000
  Speakers Series-2001/2002
  A series of lectures on various aspects of Acadian life and culture to be offered at L"Association Culturelle et Historique du Mont Carmel.
• Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, $1,000
  Conference on Northern New England in the 19th Century-2001
  Annual conference, this year entitled "Finding Sustenance in a Challenging Environment: Food, Drink, Family, Community and Spirituality." Participants will examine elements which sustained people in the 19th century.
• Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lovell, $1,870
  Cavalcade of Entertainment in Lovell: 1800-2000
  To accompany the Lovell Historical Society's Exhbit on Lovell history, the Library will mount a community project dealing with the history of local entertainment culminating in an historical pageant.
• Lubec Landmarks, Lubec, $500
  McCurdy's Smokehouse Through the Eyes of Frank Van Riper: Exhibition Planning
  Planning for an exhibit which features the work of photographer and writer Frank Van Riper.
• Mattawamkeag Historical Society, Mattawamkeag, $350
  Through Their Eyes
  Materials and supplies for an oral history project focusing on the women of Mattawamkeag.
• Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce, Millinocket, $1,000
  The History of Millinocket - The 2nd 50 Years
  This grant will assist the Town of Millinocket in preparing historical materials for use in its community centennial celebration.
• Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce, Millinocket, $500
  Planning Millinocket's Centennial Celebration
  A planning grant to help develop historical content for Millinocket's 100th anniversary celebration.
• Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce, Millinocket, $2,000
  Fifth Annual Wooden Canoe Festival-2001
  Funding supports historical programming at the Fifth Annual Wooden Canoe Festival in Millinocket.
• Pownal Elementary School, North Yarmouth, $1,000
  Getting to Know Jones' Inn: A School-Community Collaborative
  An excavation and interpretive program relating to the Jones Inn site in Pownal Center, involving Pownal Middle School students and community volunteers under the supervision of archaeologist Norman Buttrick.
• Norway Memorial Library, Norway, $1,000
  Downtown Norway Walking Tour Guide
  A project to produce an expanded and updated version of the highly successful Downtown Norway Walking Tour Guide.
• Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, Old Town, $1,870
  A Wabanaki Guide to Maine
  Extended production of "A Wabanaki Guide to Maine," an arts & heritage tourism guide to the cultural heritage of the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet & Micmac tribes of Maine.
• University of Maine, Old Town, $1,000
  Ecology & Environmental Studies Visiting Lecturer
  Richard Nelson, a writer and conservationist, will speak on ecology and environmental issues at two evening lectures, an afternoon seminar, and student group meetings.
• Orono High School, Orono, $300
  A Workshop With Maine's Poet Laureate
  A two-day workshop and reading program for students and the public at Orono High School featuring the Poet Laureate of Maine, Baron Wormser.
• University of Maine, Orono, $900
  Echoes Across the Himalayas
  An art and photography exhibit that explores the lives of Tibetan refugees exiled in Mussoorie, India.
• University of Maine, Orono, $1,000
  Folklife Center Orono
  Maine Folklife Center Museum Without Walls
  Grant will support development of a "Museum without walls" to mount interpretive exhibits about Maine Folklife in several venues around the state.
• Franco American Studies, Orono, $500
  Traditional Dance of French Quebec
  Lecture and dance demonstration by Pierre Chartrand, a leading choreographer of traditional French American dancing, who will appear in conjunction with the Maine Folklife Center's Folk Festival in November.
• Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine, Palermo, $300
  Maine Survivors Remember the Holocaust (Closed Captioning Project)
  Production of closed caption version of video "Maine Survivors Remember the Holocaust" to expand the audience for this resource.
• Maine's First Ship, Phippsburg, $500
  Early Maine History Workshop
  A 2-day teacher workshop on the early history of Maine at the site of the Popham colony.
• Bolduc Correctional Facility, Warren, $1,000
  Fiction Writing in a Maine Prison
  The project focuses on fiction: writing, editing and discussion works by inmates and other writers at Bolduc Correctional Facility, in Warren.
• Portland Stage Company, Portland, $5,700
  The Humanities in Theater Project
  This is a post-performance interpretive discussion program for theater audiences of all ages.
• Portland Public Library, Portland, $1,000
  AIDA: A Rumination on Spectacle
  A three-session mini course exploring the history, culture, and context of the opera Aida, to coincide with the opera's Portland performances.
• Maine Jewish Film Festival, Portland, $2,000
  Audience Development Project
  This grant supports public outreach, discussion, and interpretation of selected films being shown at the Maine Jewish Film Festival.
• LARK Society for Chamber Music, Portland, $1,000
  Welcome to Chamber Music: an introduction to the History of Music's Most Intimate Literature
  A free lecture and live demonstration series exploring the history of chamber music.
• Center for Cultural Exchange, Portland, $2,000
  Sudanese Conference 2001
  One-day convocation of the Sudanese community in Portland to explore culture, history, and shared experience among its mermbers
• Museum of African Tribal Art, Portland, $2,000
  Lessons from Africa
  Two five-week series of free public workshops on African cultural history with emphasis on connections between Africa and Maine.
• Maine Crafts Association, Portland, $2,000
  Craft History
  An insert on Maine craft history to be included in the Maine Crafts Association's directory.
• Portland's Downtown District, Portland, $5,000
  The Master's Eye: Puppets of Japan
  September exhibition of antique Japanese puppet figures which will include a symposium, workshops, and gallery talks. This will be part of World Puppets Portland, a festival of international puppet theater.
• University of New England, Portland, $500
  Earth Charter Celebration of Interdependence Summit
  A program and lecture to be held at UNE-Westbrook, one of 10 sites around the country introducing the public to 16 principles for tending the earth in the 21st century.
• University of Southern Maine, Portland, $1,000
  The Children of Abraham Down East: The Impact of Islam on Jews, Christiams, & Community in Maine
  Planning grant for a symposium exploring the relationships between Islamic, Jewish, and Christian faiths in Southern Maine.
• City of Portland - Public Health Division, Portland, $400
  Portland Public Health - Born to Read
  A Born to Read program for clients of the Maternal-Child Health Program in Portland.
• Maine Preservation, Portland, $500
  Maine Preservation 2001 Annual Conference: Smart Preservation-Can You Meet the Challenge?
  Support for Maine Preservation's 29th Annual Statewide historic preservation conference.
• Fine Arts Boosters-Portland High School, Portland, $500
  The Longfellow Prize
  Planning grant to explore future directions for the Longfellow Prize, a statewide sonnet writing contest for high school students.
• Maine Artists Space/Danforth Gallery, Portland, $1,000
  Drawing the New Millennium: The Challenge of Media & Idea to the Nature of Drawing
  Conference and scholar-led panel discussion examining the nature of drawing and its relevance at the turn of the 21st century.
• Portland Symphony Orchestra, Portland, $2,000
  Concert Conversations
  A series of interpretive discussions held in conjunction with Portland Symphony Orchestra programs.
• Island Institute, Rockland, $500
  Rockland's Working Waterfront
  An exhibit depicting mid-coast Maine's fishing industry at the turn of the century.
• Penobscot School, Rockland, $1,000
  Re-Awakening French Using Franco-American Heritage Arts
  A program in Waterville to help Franco-Americans learn about their heritage and language through exposure to Franco-American music, folk tales, fiction films, and oral histories.
• Center for Independent Documentary Roxbury Crossing, $3,000
  A Fish Story
  Scripting support for a 60 minute historical documentary on people from fishing communities along the North Atlantic coast.
• Tanglewood 4H Camp Sandy Point, $560
  History of Civilian Conservation Corps Construction of Tanglewood Camp
  A project to collect material and prepare a presentation on the history of Tanglewood Camp in Lincolnville built by the CCC.
• University of Maine, Skowhegan, $500
  Born to Read: Somerset County
  A Born to Read program to distribute books during home visits in Somerset County.
• Southern Maine Technical College, South Portland, $1,200
  Born to Read Book Bag Program
  A project to distribute bags of books to licensed early childhood care centers in the Greater Portland area.
• Portland Public Schools, South Portland, $460
  First Letters/Primeras Cartas
  A mini-course for members of Greater Portland's Latino community focusing on letter-writing, cultural history, and building literacy skills.
• St. Francis Historical Society, St. Francis, $500
  Old Home Days
  A community event to promote the local history of the town of St. Francis and nearby historical sites.
• Caribou Regional Applied Technology Center, Stockholm, $1,000
  The Coming of the Swedes
  Grant will support a student-community documentary on the founding, flourishing, and preservation of Maine's Swedish community in Aroostook County.
• The Seal Bay Festival, Syracuse, $2,000
  Introducing School-Age Students to Musical Improvisation: Experimenting with Traditions and Newer Approaches
  Two interpretive workshops on musical improvisation for school age children, part of the 2001 Seal Bay Festival.
• Topsham Public Library, Topsham, $2,000
  Album
  A 2-hour video documentary exploring the cultural heritage of the Bernier & the McCarthy families of Topsham through oral and other types of local history.
• Maine Alliance for Arts Education, Veazie, $500
  Building Community Through the Arts
  This project offers high school teachers an opportunity to teach humanities through the performing arts while building a positive social climate in the classroom.
• Bolduc Correctional Facility, Warren, $6,000
  Reading, Discussion & Writing in Maine Prisons
  Workshops involving the reading and discussion of fiction and creative writing within three Maine prisons. Literary themes will support reflection and discussion of issues pertinent to incarcerated men and women.
• The Greater Waterville Area Communities for Children Coalition, Waterville, $2,000
  Summer Shakespeare Camp for Teens
  Extension of a successful after-school Shakespeare program, and support for a summer Shakespeare camp for teen age students from Central Maine.
• Wayne Elementary School, Wayne, $1,391
  Two Wayne School Redwork Embroidery Quilts: 1926 and 2001
  Through a series of special programs, students explore the history of a redwork embroidery quilt that was made by Wayne School students in 1926.
• Sheepscot Valley Children's House, Wiscasset, $600
  The Art Lesson Lecture Series
  Interpretive programming in relation to an exhibition of local and regional artists at the Sheepscot Valley Children's House.
• Maine Archives and Museums, Yarmouth, $1,000
  Maine Archives & Museums Newsletter
  This grant will support the museum and archives community in Maine through its primary means of communication, the MAM quarterly newsletter.
• Old York Historical Society, York, $1,000
  The 1692 Candlemas Raid on York
  A two-day program examining a significant event in the early history of York through three lectures, living history presentations, and interpretation of a twentieth-century mural.